Domain Name Holders May Lose Right To Privacy!

LuvBrrdz's picture

They have: 3 posts

Joined: Apr 2005

I am a .US domain name holder and I'm spreading the word about this because I value my privacy! While the site is a bit over the top with how alarming it is, this IS a privacy issue and I believe privacy is important to a lot of people.

I, for one, don’t want just ANYone to be able to access my domain registrant information. I believe I should have the right to block that information to the general public. The only people I want to know that information should be the ones dealing with my domain account or law enforcement.

If you don't care about this issue, feel free to pass it by. If you do care about privacy, PLEASE take the time to read through this and sign the petition and send the emails to your Reps. The site does it FOR you, so it's really easy.

Quote: A recent and arbitrary decision by a federal agency eliminated private domain name registrations for the .US domain name. This means current holders of .US private domain registrations will face either making their personal information public for everyone to see, or giving up their .US domain name. It also means that new purchasers of .US domain name registrations will not be able to purchase private registrations.

This unfortunate decision was made by The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) without a hearing or an opportunity for a response by those affected -- in fact, there was no due process of any kind. If this terrible decision is allowed to stand, it could lead to an attempt to take away privacy on other domain names and other areas that are important to you. Law enforcement agencies support private registrations and you should too!

What You Can Do About It

Simply sign the petition on this site. There is also an easy to use form that lets you send an email or fax (using this Web site) to your elected representatives in Washington, D.C. so you can express your outrage and request their help in reversing the NTIA's inappropriate decision. None of the personal information you provide is published. Only your name, state, and any comments you make are displayed as part of the petition.

LuvBrrdz.info

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

Just a couple of things.
One private domains themselves really haven't been available for very long anyway. In the past you had no choice but to enter the information in the public domain.

Two I doubt if this will change for any of the .org, .com, .net domains which account for most of the domains in the US.

The third thing is that this quote listed in your post contains some truth but a lot of malarky to get people riled up. No telling how many times the word predator was used. It is also not true when it says this:

Quote: You won't find any information about the NTIA decision by searching the Internet

This has been all over the place. I have seen it on news sites, forums like this one, emails from registrars like GoDaddy and other places.

All this decision means is that if you want a private domain, you can't use the .us ones, not really anything else. Personal opinion is that is was a bonehead decision with no reasoning behind.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

LuvBrrdz's picture

They have: 3 posts

Joined: Apr 2005

I understand what you're saying, but I got my .US domains when privacy was enabled, and now this bonehead decision is affecting me. I don't want to have to give up my web addresses now that I've established them because of this issue. That's just not right. As I said, I know that .US domains are in the minority, but it's still a privacy issue. I do have my right to privacy, and I shouldn't have to give up what I already have to keep privacy. See?

For those who feel the same as I do about this specific issue, or the privacy issue in general, I'm putting the word out so they have the opportunity to voice their objections and opinions. For those who don't care, that's fine by me. I'm not trying to sway people's opinion on the matter, but inform people who may care about their privacy.

Your right. Obviously this is being discussed elsewhere, and there are articles elsewhere that the site I quoted has linked to. I agree that some of their method of delivery is a bit overboard. But the bottom line is privacy, as I've mentioned enough now.

LuvBrrdz.info

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

We have a system in the UK where businesses *have* to have their details listed on the whois server but people registering domain names for themselves (ie "personal domains") can opt out of appearing on the whois.

I think that's a fair choice. This decision that has been made for .us sucks

Andy

Greg K's picture

He has: 2,145 posts

Joined: Nov 2003

Maybe I should start a new service. You want a .us, I register it with my company information for $5 a year for you. Of course there will a contract in place that prevents me from screwing you, (ie. it will always point to the DNS you decide upon, and at anytime you can cencel and my company will transfer the registration back to your personal information).

Wonder how that would work. Of course, I've never registered a .US domain, not sure what limitations there are on getting one.

OH MY!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I just followed the link to sign the petition! Now I see this thing is all a big joke, like http://www.dhmo.org/

Yeah, a goverment agency is going to seriously accept a petition with unverifiable information on it

Quote: Please note: Only your name, state, and comments will be published as part of the petition.

And the site itself (http://www.americansdeserveprivacy.com/view.php) which is names and locations of people who want their privacy protected but let it be publically displayed on this site.... What does this site do with the other personal information they collect that isn't part of the petition???

-Greg

LuvBrrdz's picture

They have: 3 posts

Joined: Apr 2005

I think the UK has it set up properly. I simply posted this as information to those who don't know about it. For those who don't mind this privacy issue, they can skip over it. No anger here. I mind so I signed. I also emailed my representatives. I'm sure others mind as well, and it's up to them to fight for privacy or not.

Yes, the petition includes names, states & comments. Not home addresses. I think there's a bit of a difference there. Losing privacy in any capacity is certainly no joke. The person who constructed the petition site is the president (owner) of GoDaddy.Com. You can read what he wrote about it on his weblog:
http://www.bobparsons.com/NTIAprivacyeliminationtricksexplainedThedocumenttrailt.html

LuvBrrdz.info

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